Pumping apparatus



Feb. 7, 1961 s -r 2,970,605

PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1958 INVENTOR.

14 fl/Zerz MSaryewz .Unite States Patent i PUMPING APPARATUS Albert M. Sargent, 19224 Parkside, Detroit 21, Mich.

Filed Feb. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 713,384

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-24741) This invention relates to pumping apparatus and, more particularly, to improved pumping apparatus which may be utilized in preventing the flooding of basements.

An object of the present invention is to overcome disadvantages in prior apparatus of the indicated character, and to provide improved pumping apparatus incorporating improved means for preventing sewer lines from flooding basements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved pumping apparatus of the indicated character whichjmay be readily installed in conjunction with conventional sewer traps without modifying or otherwise disturbing the other components of the sewer system and without necessitating damaging the basement floor. Another object of the present invention is to provide improved pumping apparatus for preventing the flooding of basements which may be readily installed as a part of the original sewer installation or which may be easily and quickly installed as an accessory to an existing sewer installation.

Another object of the invention is toprovide improved pumping apparatus which is automatically actuated in response to a potential flooding condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved pumping apparatus of the indicated character that is economical to manufacture and assemble, durable, efficient and reliable in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved pumping apparatus that may be easily and quickly installed in the sewer system of a building with a minimum of time, labor and expense.

, The above as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view, with portions in section and other portions broken away, of apparatus embodying the present invention, showing the same in installed relationship with respect to a sewer trap;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a sectional, elevational and schematic view of another modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated'in Fig.1 thereof, and is comprised 'of pumping apparatus, generally designated 10, which flange portion 14 defining an inlet opening 16 which is connected to the building sewage line or lines, and an outlet flange portion 18 defining an opening 20 which is 2,970,605 Patented Feb. 7, 1961- connected to the street sewage line. The inlet and outlet flanges 14 and 18 of the trap are joined by a generally U-shaped portion 22 of the trap defining a generally U-shaped conduit 24 which functions to provide a water seal for the installation. The trap 12 also includes a flange portion 26 defining an access opening 28 which is aligned with the leg portion 30 of the U-shaped section of the trap. A substantially straight standpipe 32 is provided, one end of which is fitted within the flange portion 26 defining the access opening 28 so that the bore 34 of the standpipe is alined with the access opening 28 and with the leg portion 30 of the U-shaped conduit, suitable sealing compound 36 being provided to insure a fluid tight seal between the lower end of the standpipe and the flange portion 26.

The pumping apparatus 10 includes one or more impellers, such as 38 and 40 which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, are in the form of three bladed propellers, the impellers 38 and 40 being mounted on a shaft 42 and retained by screws 44 so that the impellers are disposed in the lower portion of the leg 30 of conduit at a position adjacent the lower edge of the passageway 16 defined by the flange 14. It will be understood that any desired impeller or impellers may be utilized that react in line with the axis of the conduit. The lower end portion of the shaft 42 is mounted for rotation in a bearing46 carried by a bearing housing 48, the bearing housing 48 being fixed to the lower end of a support tube 50, as by set screws 52. The support tube 50 extends coaxially through the standpipe 32 and through a cap member 54 which threadably engages an adapter 56 provided on the upper end of the standpipe 32, suitable sealing means 58 being provided between the upper end portion of the standpipe and the adapter 56 to provide a fluid tight seal. The cap member 54 includes an axial extension 60 which defines an opening 62 through which the support tube projects, the periphery of the extension preferably being non-circular in cross section so that wrench means may be conveniently applied thereto when the cap member 54 is screwed into the adapter 56. The support tube 50 is fixed to the cap member 54 by set screws 64 so that the assembly may be fixed in the desired position relative to the trap 12.

The shaft 42 extends coaxially through the support tube 50 and in the embodiment illustrated, the upper end of the shaft is journaled for rotation in a bearing 66 carried by a support bracket 68 fixed to the upper end portion of the support tube 50. A conventional electric motor 70 is provided which is fixed to the bracket 68, as by screws 72, the drive shaft 74 of the motor being connected to the upper end portion of the shaft 42 through the agency of a coupling 76 secured by screws 78. it will be understood tnat, if desired, tne upper bearing could be provided by the motor itself.

A tubular float 80 is provided which may be made of plastic, wood, hollow metal or other desired material and configuration having sufficient buoyancy to float in the sewage. The float 80 is mounted on the support tube 50 within the bore 34 defined by the standpipe 32, the float 80 normally resting on a flange 82 provided on the lower bearing housing 48. The diameter of the flange 82 is greater than the diameter of the impellers 38 and 40 and is also greater than the diameter of the float 80. With such a construction, the flange 82 prevents the impellers from striking the trap 12 and also serves to align the assembly so as to prevent the float 80 from jamming. Sufficient clearance is provided between the flange 82 and the trap 12 so that water may rise in the leg portion 30 above the flange 80 under flooding conditions. Suflicient clearance is also provided between the float 80 and the support tube 50, and be- 3 tween the float 80 and the standpipe 32 so that the float is free to rise within the bore 34 defined by the standpipe 32 if the water level rises in the standpipe under flooding conditions. I

An-elongate' rod 84 is provided'the lower end of which is fixed to the float 80. The rod 84 extends through the bore 34 of the standpipe and through the cap member 54, and the upper end portion of the rod extends through a guide 86 carried by the bracket 68, the upper end of the rod being connected to the actuating arm 88 of a conventional normally open limit switch 90 fixed to a flange portion 92 provided on the bracket 68. The motor 70 is connected to a suitable'source of potential through the switch 90, the switch being constructed in a manner such that movement of the rod 84 upwardly against the switch arm 88 closes the switch to energize the motor. The motor is preferably of heavy, continuous duty construction so that failure of the motor will not occur if it is allowed to operate inadvertentlyfor arelatively' long period of time after the flood "condition has subsided. If desired, a suitable signal device 94, such as a signal lamp or buzzer, may be provided to apprise the occupants of the building of the fact that the pumping apparatus is operating.

If desired, a conventional timer switch may be substituted for the limit switch 90, the timer switch being set to open and de-energize the motor after a predetermined period of time. In the event the flood condition continues to prevail, the rod 84 will, of course, immediate- 1y close the timer switch again and re-energize the motor.

In the operation of the apparatus, the components thereof normally occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. Under normal or non-flooding conditions, the sewage from the building sewage line flows through the inlet opening 16 of the trap 12, through the U-shaped conduit portion 24 and out through the outlet opening to the street sewer line, suflicient water normally remaining in the bight portion of the trap to provide a water seal.

Assuming that the street sewer line tendsto back up because of excess rain or other factors, the water level will rise in the conduit defined by the leg portion ofthe trap, and the rising water will flow upwardly around the periphery of the lower bearing unit 48 into the bore 34 of the standpipe 32 As the water rises, the float 80 will rise thereby energizing the motor 70 through the agency of the rod 84 and switch 90.. When the motor 70 is energized, the impellers 38 and 40, which are preferably driven at a speed that is matched with the impellers so as to provide maximum thrust,will force the water in the trap 12 toward the street sewer and create a pressurehead which will-preventthe street sewer lines from backing up through the trap 12. At the same time, the building sewage line will drain in the usual manner since impellers assist the water flow toward the street sewer line thereby permitting theuse of the building plumbing facilities during the time the flood conditions prevail.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 2, a manual switch 190 is substituted for the automatically actuated, float controlled switch means 90 illustrated in Fig. l The modification illustrated in Fig. 2 enables a reduction in the cost of the pumpingapparatus but requires manual closing 'of the switch 190 to initiate operation of the impellers 38 and 40'. v

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, a pair of electrodes 200 and 202 are provided for energizing the motor 70, the electrodes 200 and 202 being disposed in closely spaced relationship within the bore'34 of the standpipe 32' and adjacent the flange 26. The electrodes 200 and 202 are preferably connected in parallel with the holding conta'cts CR-l of a relay CR which functions to control the motor 70 through normally open contacts CR-Z. With such a construction, when the levelof the 1 Waiter-"rises su'flic'ientlyto cover the ends of both area trodes 200 and 202 simultaneously, an electrical circuit is comp te from the. p we l ne 4. ou h. h c: trodes 200 and 202 and the coil of the relay CR to the power line 206. The contacts CR-2 then close to energize the motor 70, the holding contacts CR-l serving to maintain the relay CR energized when the level of the water drops below the electrode-s as a result of the action of the impellers 38 and, 40. A suitable switch 208 is provided for opening theci'rcuit through the relay CR so that the motor70 may be de-energized when the flood conditions have subsided V While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the sp'ir'i't'of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sewage system having a sewer conduit provided with an outlet opening communicating with a street sewer whereby sewage flows from said conduit to said street sewer under normal conditions, apparatus for counter,- acting a reverse flow ofsewage from said street sewer through said sewage conduit as 'a result of flood conditions,said apparatus comprising, in combination, impeller means mounted within said sewer conduit and reacting in line .with the longitudinal axis thereof in a direction toward said outlet opening so that the back pressure in said conduit resultingfrom flood conditions is directly counteracted by the pressure resulting from actuation of said impeller means, A means supporting said impeller means in said sewer conduit, drive means carried by said support means and operatively connected to said impeller means, and means including electric switch means responsive to the level of fluid in said sewer conduit for actuating said drive means so as to drive said impeller means during flood conditions. e

2. In a sewage system having a sewer conduit pro; vided with an outlet opening communicating with astre e't sewer whereby sewage flows from safd conduit" to' said street sewer under normal conditions, apparatus for counteracting a reverse flow of sewage from said 'str'eet sewer through said sewage conduit as a result of flood conditions, said apparatus comprising, in combinatIon, impeller means mounted within said sewer conduit'and reacting in line with the longitudinal axis thereof in a d'rection toward said outlet opening so that the'back pressure in said conduit resulting from flood conditions is directly counteracted by the pressure resulting from actuation of 'said impeller means, means supportingsaid impeller means in said sewer conduit, drive meansfcar ried by said support meansand operatively' connected to said impeller means, and means responsive to'the'level ofthe fluid in saidsewer conduit for controlling said drive means. l

3. In combination with a sewage system provided with a sewer trap defining a generally U-shaped conduit'having an outlet opening commun'cating with a street sewer whereby sewage flows from said trap to said stree'tsewer under normal conditions, apparatus for counteracting a reverse flow of sewage from said street sewer through said trap as a result of flood conditions, said apparatus including an impeller disposed in one leg portion of said U-shaped conduit and reacting in a direction toward said outlet opening so that' the back pressure in said U -shaped conduit resulting from flood conditions is directlycounteracted by the pressure resulting from actuation of said impeller means, an elongate drive shaft, one endportion of said shaft projecting into said one leg portion of said conduit and being connected to 'said impeller, bearing means disposed within said one leg portion of said conduit and supporting said one end portion of said shaft, tubular support meanssurroundlng said shaft and carrying said bearing means, electric motor means carried by said" supportmean's outside'said, trap and operatively connected tosaid shaft, and electric switch means respon- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dunn July 16, 1918 6 Gordon Nov. 25, 1947 Schwarzkopf Sept. 30, 1952 Wefsman Nov. 29, 1955 Sofia Mar. 27, 1956 Howe May 29, 1956 Weisman May 14, 1957 

